Body Cleanse

With the start of a New Year and help from "polycystic-ovary-syndrome-guide.com" I will be doing a body cleanse for 2 weeks!

I'm excited to start the new year off right and fresh. This will help with my pre-diabetic/blood sugar levels. The doctor said a skinny woman with PCOS is JUST AS likely to develop diabetes as a 30 pound overweight woman...So, me being slightly overweight AND having PCOS...Imagine the likelihood of diabetes. 

So, time for a body cleanse.

This is how it goes:

-For 2 weeks, the only thing I will eat is leafy green vegetables, fruits, non-starchy vegetables, eggs and nuts (for proteins).

-With every meal (so 3 x a day), I will take a quarter cup of water and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Apple Cider vinegar has many health benefits and will help with appetite control.

At the end of those 2 weeks, all of the toxins will be out of my system, weight loss will start, my body will be in balance, and I will feel more energized.

We are going out with a Shebang for the New Years! We are having a fondue extravaganza, with cheese, broth, and chocolate!! :)

But, after that, I'm going on the strict body cleanse!!

And after the 2 week body cleanse, the website suggests that you stick to a heavy fruit/vegetable diet and add fish and chicken to your meals. Of course, I don't like fish, so I'll add chicken to my meals. :) 

Hopefully when you see me next time I'll be a little bit lighter and on my way to being less pre-diabetic! :)

Results of our blood work...And more!

Well, we got our results back on Tuesday. The nurse called me around 3:00 and said, "Your glucose sugars rose after the 2 hour test. Dr. Trolice would like to see you for a consultation appointment." :( :( :(

So, we made an appointment for Thursday at 11:30.

Thursday comes and we get ready for our appointment. We meet with Dr. Trolice..My blood sugar was 92 before the sugary substance (which is normal)...and after drinking it and waiting 2 hours it was 175. Now diabetic individuals would have been 200+, normal is about 140. So I was 35 levels away. Unfortunately, he deemed me pre-diabetic. With the right diet, exercise then I should be fine. However, he put me on metformin. Metformin is a pill to help your blood sugar levels equal out. They put me on this pill for 6 months and then I'll retest. If everything checks out then they'll take me off the pill and test me again. Basically until either a) my body can equalize my blood sugar levels b) my body can't equalize it on its own and I have to take the pill until further notice. :(

Obviously we're crossing our fingers for option A.

Then we discussed Clomid. This time he was a little hesitant putting me on right then, but he thought about it and said okay. The worry was there was 1 more round of blood work that needed to be done. He said I could start taking the clomid, but if I get negative blood work coming back, then I'll have to stop the clomid....

So, I'm on a schedule:
I take the Clomid from yesterday (11/29) until 1/2/2012.
Then on 1/4/2012 I start taking the ovulation predictor kit (opk). The nurse said I shouldn't see ovulation, but the tests are just to be sure I didn't.
On 1/6/2012, I come back into the lab to check the growth of my follicles* More about this in a few
After that appointment, they will call me and tell me when I have to give myself the trigger shot (Ovidrel shot).
Once I've done the trigger shot, the egg should be released and then 16 days later I have a BFP! :)

So, follicle growths...Well at this ultrasound (on Thursday), the nurse looked at my follicles. Follicles are little bubbles on your ovaries that houses the egg. Normal women have 1 dominant that shows up at CD 16 (which is where I am). However, all my follicles are tiny and none are dominant. The Clomid will help make a dominant follicle. Actually, it'll help all of them grow (and there could be more than one dominant....yes....meaning a chance of multiples).

 Because my follicles were not growing, I am placed on Clomid to further this along.

My ultrasound on 1/6/2012 will then check my follicle growth. They need to be at 20-22 mm long. If they are, then I'll give myself the trigger shot. The trigger shot makes the dominant follicle(s) release the egg. Meaning within a day or two of the trigger shot, I should have a little egg traveling down my fallopian tube and meeting up with Sperm....thousands of them. :)

If the egg meets with the sperm, and implants, then we are onto a baby in my belly.

Now of course, there are lots of things that can happen between Clomid and implanting a baby... Like the sperm not meeting up with the egg, multiple eggs released (hey...I think I do want twins!! :)), miscarriage once it's inside my uterus (my lining was at a 6mm and they wanted it to be at 7mm..). Probably a lot more, but all in all...God's will is good for me. If he wants this to happen, it will.

Our next step is to baby dance til we are blue in the face..Haha. But seriously. We discussed every other day until the trigger shot, then every day from the ultrasound to after the trigger shot...LOL.

So, I'm on Clomid (and if my blood results come back negative - well I would have already finished Clomid so, either way works for me...:)), and just anticipating my next appointment!

I had my blood work and urine sample done today. Blood work went fine. I actually told the man who gave my blood, "Good job." LOL. It was just reactionary. It didn't hurt except a pinch. Much better than the other girl last week who took her time and tried to become my best friend before sticking me.

The pee test on the hand. UGH. I drank a whole cup of water on my way to the appointment. I'm thinking I'm good, right. Yeah right! I had to go into the bathroom at least 6-7 times. I couldn't pee from the start so I asked for a cup. I had to drink about 2 more cups (they were tiny little cups, so I had about 4 of them equaling 2 cups) and sit with the water running. AND I still didn't even make a stream! I would just drizzle, drizzle. Ugh. Frustrating. So after 40 minutes of trying I finally got enough to fill the cup to the line. :(

My appointment was at 8:45. I got there at 8:05 (I was thinking i-4 traffic, but obviously there was none). They took me in at 8:10. My blood work was done by 8:20, and then I had my pee test. Ugh. From 8:20-9:15 I tried my darnest to pee! Like I said, I finally got enough in the cup.

Then what happens - I pee as soon as I get home! And then pee 1 more time after that!! Are you kidding me!!! AHHH!

But hopefully those results come back fine and Clomid works and by February 1st I have a little egg inside of me developing into a baby....Prayerfully!

Keep us in your prayers! <3

To be continued....Continued!

Alright. Sorry about the break in update, but we had to go do all of our tests! Which, I'll get to a little later..

So, we were in November. I called my OB on the first day of Thanksgiving break. Of course the nurse didn't want me to come in, rather she suggest that I go to a fertility doctor. She recommended the Center for Reproductive Medicine. But, when I realized that that office was a fertility clinic, I remembered that OCPS partnered with Fertility Care and gave a discount (because of course, fertility issues are not covered by my insurance).

So, I call Fertility Care AND the Center for Reproductive Medicine (just to verify they are one in the same and to see which had the first appointment). Well the Center for Rep. Med. (such a long name) was very rude to me, saying "Uhh, ya, why would you not...." or "Well sorry, we can't help you" in a very sarcastic tone. I told them, "Let me figure out my schedule and I'll call you back for an appointment." Yeah, right. Then I called Fertility Care, they were VERY helpful. And actually willing to compare their practice to the Center for Rep. Med. (ie: do they do the same thing, costs, etc). They actually had nothing available that week (neither did Center for Rep. Med), but their first appointment was about a month earlier than Center for Rep. Med.

Needless to say, I scheduled an appointment the next week (November 30th) with Fertility  Care.

The funny side note: When I called my OB back and talked with the nurse, I had to explain to send the papers to Fertility Care instead of the Center for Rep. Med...She was like, "why, I suggested CFRP, why aren't you going there?" I explained the discount we get with Fertility Care and they do the same thing. The nurse just didn't understand why I would not want to go to the office she suggested (how about because she NEVER wants the OB to see me, and rather fix problems at home- ugh to her!).

After that phone call, I called my dad crying because I was very upset that we were unsuccessful. He suggested I talk with my aunt who had her own issues trying to conceive and it took them 7 years and thousands of dollars. Which, nothing worked until after they spent all that money and just gave up. 

Now for my appointment with Fertility Care:

I was nervous all day long. I was leaving early from work so that I could go, as the appointment was at 2:30.  No one really knew about the appointment except for family. Which was hard because explaining to my principal that I had to leave for a doctor's appointment and end of story was worrying her! 

We arrive at Fertility Care. We talk with the doctor (Mark Trolice, totally would suggest him - we've had nothing but great interactions with him!). We got to know each other, he's from Jersey woot woot! We discussed my early period flows - before going on birth control, etc.

As soon as we finished talking, he's like, "I know what you have, but let's do an ultrasound to be sure of it." In my mind, I kind of knew what I had, but didn't want to admit it...and honestly I can't diagnose myself... LOL

We go into the ultrasound room. It wasn't bad at all, just like a normal yearly check up. But he discovered that I have PCOS. 

PCOS stands for Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. Meaning, I have a whole bunch of cysts on my ovaries. The cysts prevent eggs from dropping, which prevents ovulation, which in turn prevents a regular, normal period.

Now that we've discovered that we went back and talked to Dr. Trolice again. He explain that there are a few things we could do if a) we didn't want to conceive or b) if we wanted to conceive. Of course, we chose option B. Like pronto :)

He explained that the first thing we need to do is get normal blood work back from him (showing not pregnant, normal thyroid, and something else I forgot). After that, I'll be put on provera to start a period. Once my period starts I'll go in for an HSG test and then be put on clomid! Then I also had to get other blood work done because with PCOS I'm pre-diabetic. Another step was a semen analysis test for Brian, just to make sure all hurdles are down before we begin with medications.

I'm glad we were able to figure some things out and had a plan of action. We met with the nurse and she explained in depth each of the next steps. She told me she would call me once I was able to take provera to start it.

The next day, the nurse called me. Everything was normal with my thyroid and the other thing, and obviously not pregnant, so I started provera.

I had a normal AF with provera and once I was on my AF, I was told to call to schedule my HSG test. I scheduled my HSG for Tuesday of break and while I was at it I scheduled Brian's semen analysis. 

Which leads onto: Now I'm on break, and Tuesday was the day of my tests. I had to take antibiotic pills prior to testing in case of infection that could occur. 

The Semen analysis appointment was at 11:30. Brian got his thing done and then at 12:30 was my HSG appointment. An HSG test is where they inject radioactive dye into the cervix and watch the dye flow through the tubes to make sure everything is open and not blocked.

So, I go back for my HSG test. Brian could not come with me. He injected the dye - not too bad. I could actually feel the dye travel up through my cervix ... weird huh. But then he wanted me to roll around to make sure it's flowing out. Oh boy, that was crampy, crampy, crampy!!!! From what I could tell (and my limited expertise) it looked like one tube was blocked and the other was opened. 

After the procedure we got to sit down and talk with Dr. Trolice (I love that about him, he sits with you in every aspect of the procedure and explains everything!). He shared that he thought one tube was having issues, but after seeing the pictures... EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND OPEN!!! Woo hoo! What a hurdle to jump over!

THEN, we got Brian's semen analysis back... And EVERYTHING WAS ABOVE NORMAL!!!! Seriously, like the average is 50 on something, and Brian was 92! The average was 4 for something, Brian was 8. He said he had great results!

Dr. Trolice wanted to start Clomid right there...but I unfortunately did not have my other tests done (glucose tolerance, etc). I told him I was getting it done yesterday (Wednesday). So he said, if the results come back Thursday, then we can get you in Friday for an ultrasound and start you on clomid. If they don't come back until Friday, then we'll do the ultrasound on Tuesday and start then.

Which is VERY uplifting! I was actually thinking that we'd have to wait ANOTHER cycle and Provera 10 days before starting clomid, putting me at clomid around January 23rd. Well, he said there is no problem to start now because I don't ovulate anyway, and I don't really have a period on my own.

Woo hoo!! The funny thing - Brian and I were teetering between what to do for New Years. We had 2 options really - 1) Go to his best friend's house party 2) have a party of our own...Well the night before the Tuesday exam I told Brian I just wanted to do a me and him party. And he said okay. Which...this works perfectly! If I start clomid next week, we will want to be bding as much as we can...and you can't do that with having a party (or going to a party).

Woo hoo!! I'm just so excited for the possibilities and I know God is guiding us right along! 

I also found out my cousin got pregnant on her first round of clomid! She also has cysts and was messaging me back and forth prior to the procedure. 

Friends, the future looks great! I may be pregnant in January, maybe in February. But all I know is God is holding our hand through it all!!!!!

There is my long update! Hopefully I won't go as long without updating you all! :)

<3 Kim

P.S. My best friend also got engaged in September!! Woo hoo, now onto planning her Bridal shower! :)

Overdue Update!

Good morning!!

   It has been quite some time since I last posted. Brian and I have been heavily involved in work. 

  Over the past few months, Brian has installed a new server, called many people about adding a new server and wiring, and best of all, got a raise! I on the other hand, boy, where to I begin...I have been to trainings galore (Thinking Maps, Teacher Evaluation, Restraints, etc), have walked classrooms, done interventions groups, and even about 60% completed with the Yearbook. 

  Needless to say, even though we've been busy, we also took time to try and have a baby. Yes, I say the word try. I'm going to try and divulge as much information as I can before my doctor's appointment, but I only have about 10 minutes left.

 So, I'll start from the beginning. Last you heard from me was in August. I had just started my af forced by provera. For the whole month of September, Brian and I bd'd every other night like good little SME Planners are. We tracked ovulation and had scheduled bding sessions. Unfortunately, according to the OPKs (ovulation predictor kits), I never ovulated.

The month of September I received a spotting period. It was not a full flow, just rather a spot, for 8 days straight!! 

I actually thought that I might be pregnant and that I was having implantation bleeding (IB). That is where you bleed as the baby attaches itself to your uterine lining. I was hopeful, and everyone on Pink Pad thought it could go either way.

But pregnancy test after pregnancy test (only 3 this time) proved otherwise. I was not pregnant.

My OB nurse said that spotting would be considered my period for the month and to continue on.

Now we're onto the month of October. Brian and I lost our fervor to continue to bd every other day. We bd occasionally. Maybe 2 times a week (at most 3).

When it came time for a period, I had none. I didn't get my hopes up. I didn't even take a pregnancy test. I just knew I wasn't pregnant. 

Then came November. No period has shown since the spotting period in September, and all pregnancy tests came out negative. We continued to just bd...until Thanksgiving Break....

To be continued....

Back to the daily grind...

Well, on Monday I started back to work. But, prior to arriving to work (Sunday), I got a visitor! Yay. Now that it's over and done with, I can move onto to bigger and better things! :)

So,  not only did I start work, but I started my period. Honestly, my period has been easier to handle than work at this point.

I never thought that things that happened personally would this week. But, like the lessons I learned in college about guys, I am slowly learning about friends now. I want a friend who will be honest with me, be supportive of me, to have confidence in each other. I'm willing to put myself on the line for a friend, to go and help them whenever needed...I've realized that not all of my "friends" were willing to do that. At this point, I'm cutting the string and I have a professional relationship with some people now.

Onto other things: Now that I've finished my period, I can start the SMEP. You can look it up if you want details. But it is basically tracking my ovulation (with my ovulation kit) and baby-dancing every other day until you get that positive ovulation prediction. Then you baby dance twice, skip a day, baby dance again. Then you wait.

About 15-16 days after your positive ovulation prediction (and hopefully a few pregnancy symptoms) you take a hpt and then you wait and see.

Obviously, I'll let you know all the details as things go on (well, not all the details, duh).

Keep praying for us on our quest for a baby!

No more pills!

I finished my Provera pills on Sunday. Woo hoo. But now, I'm sitting here waiting for my flo to come.

Want to know something weird? I was spotting yesterday. Like literally, 5 spots when I wiped (sorry tmi).

Now today, nothing.

Of course, spotting is a sign of pregnancy and period. Hopefully, I'll start by next week.

Keep praying for me so that once I get my period we can start trying again!!

HPT, Doctors, and Pills. Oh my!

Well, as of today I am 31 days late. Crazy huh, you'd think you're definitely pregnant Kim! However, after the 7th home pregnancy test that was negative, I called the doctor.

I had a doctor's appointment on Thursday to get blood work done. I was excited to find out 100% yay or nay. So I arrive, the doctor checks outs my cervix, she said it's good. She said I don't have any cysts on my ovaries. Then I get to the blood work. Not bad actually. I didn't cry, it only pinched. I watched the needle in my arm.

After the blood work the doctor gave me provera. Provera is a pill that jump starts your period. Basically it is the hormone produced right before you start your period. When it gets heightened to a certain level then your period starts. I have to take 10 pills and after the 10th pill my period should start. I'm on pill 7. On Sunday I will take my last pill. Hopefully this week I'll start my period.

Then, I bought an ovulation kit!! Now I will be able to know when I've ovulated and go from there. Since that is my problem, I don't exactly know when I ovulated or IF I even ovulated last month.

The Doctor did tell me that if I don't ovulate this month/don't have a period, then she will put me on clomid. Gah! :( Let's hope it doesn't get to that!

Want to know a secret? One of Brian and I's baby names is Emily. And lo and behold, Florida may get hit with tropical storm Emily. So I keep making jokes to Brian about how tropical storm Emily will hit me in my belly. Hah. What a coincidence, eh.

Let's hope God has a baby in store for this month! <3

Visitors Part II

Well, I'm still visitor free this month. I am 20 days late, no symptoms at all and no positive tests. We've done the regular tests and digital tests. Our next step will be a blood test.

Brian and I go back and forth if I'm pregnant or not, but you just never know.

We have to put our trust 100% in God to know what is going on with my body. I'm perfectly fine with whatever God has in store because I know his ways are perfect! 

He is showing how He is in control in all areas. I had "planned" this awesome idea of starting to try in July and thought that my plan would be perfect and have the baby at the end of next school year. But in actuality, God is showing me how to rely on him in this situation, give my concerns to God and help me see that it is His plan not my ways. 

So I leave you with some uplifting verses that I am clinging to:

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Hebrews 11:40

...Since God has planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

No visitors???!

Good afternoon!! It's been an eventful week here n the Orlando area! We've had the Casey Anthony trial verdict, the last space shuttle launch, and rain all week.

 Want to know something we haven't had? A visit from my friend. Yup, that's right. Nothing. As of right now I'm 4 days late. But 2 tests later and still negative.

So at the Quigley household we are just living day by day. I don't think I'm pregnant, I have no symptoms. But again, I have no symptoms for period or for pregnancy.

I'd like to get something ya know. Rather than just sitting here in limbo. Sometimes I get cramps that feel like period, but nothing. Absolutely, nothing.

In other news, I have a free airline ticket (round trip)... Unfortunately, Brian and I would never use it (because there is 2 of us, we don't have the extra money to spend on hotels, and it's not going to NJ)...but we offered it to Aubrey (my cousin).. and she may actually take it!! Woo hooo. That would be great if she came. If she doesn't take it, then we'll sell it to someone... I have many offers on Facebook for it.

Well, I'll keep you all updated on whether or not my friend shows or if something else goes on! :)

Time for an Update!

Well, it's been quite an adventure! These past few months have been fun and stressful!

I finished up April with Spring break. It was a relaxing Spring break at home. Nothing too exciting.

May came, a VERY busy month. We had: Canstruction, Teacher Appreciation Week, Relay for Life, our field trip to St. Augustine, finish selling yearbooks, start wrapping up the year, FCAT Writing scores,and  FCAT Reading/Math scores.

June came, a somewhat busy month. We had: End of the Year, End of the Year luncheon, and then SUMMER (which I am on now).

Some news that occurred over the past few months:

1) Our FCAT writing scores were phenomenal! We went up 30%! From 70% to 91%. We were soo excited. But the, fourth and fifth grade reading and math scores came in. Not soo hot. We stayed the same in Reading (72%) and dropped 5% in Math (70%). Fifth grade was a little worse off. So next year we will be working on that.
2) I sold all 169 yearbooks!! I only had to sell 151 of them, but I sold the 18 extra that they sent me! Woo hoo! I'm so excited all my hard work paid off. 
3) I was offered the Reading Coach position at my school! So next year I will be out of the classroom! I'm excited for this position. After 4 years, I think I'm ready to step out of the classroom and try a different position.
4) I had 2 days off from work, then I had 2 trainings (one for 3 days, the other for 4). I enjoy working. The trainings have been very educational and fun! I got to learn a lot more about my coworkers!!
5) The weekends of June have been tremendously busy!! June 3-4 was the only week free, June 11-12: Brian's birthday party, June 18-19: Betsy's birthday party (at our house) and then MIL day (while Brian had step-father day!), June 24-25: Grams, Gramps, and the fam are coming to our house! Pfhew! Tiring

      Brian and I aren't expecting any baby yet. Still just waiting for the timing. We decided to try a few times, but when the expected due date calculator told me that it would be in March, we stopped. So it looks like we're going to wait until July to start trying fully.
     I've been taking prenatals for about 3 months now. Unfortunately, my store bought vitamins are just about to run out. The good thing: free prenatals! How? You ask, well let me tell you! My insurance company has this program called "Healthy Babies Program." If you sign up before you get pregnant they will give you $200 after you have the baby. Free money, why not? Well, all you have to do is sign up for the program, get prescription prenatals, and take Lamaze classes. I can do that! I signed up for the program and got my "exemption" of prenatals. I had my prescription sent over from the doctors and my first prescription of prenatals filled. Next week I will start them.
    
I'm signing off. I will continue to let you know of the journey of trying to conceive! As of right now, the journey is a standstill at just taking prenatals! Butt I'm sure I will update more as I'm out of school and just hanging around! :)

Symptoms

Brian and I have had a very busy weekend! 

 On Friday, Brian and I went to a game night. It was very fun! We play Rummy and a game called Quelf. You should look into it if you've never heard of it. There were a good number of us there, Betsy, Frett, Keenan, Patrick, David, Brian, and I. We were there til about 12:30. :)

  On Saturday, Brian and I had 2 birthday parties to attend. First, however, we had a few errands to run. We stopped at Lowes and the library. Then, went onto Dylan's birthday party! It was fun, hanging out with my nieces and nephews, my family. After that, we took a nice 2 hour drive to Ocala for Brian's dad's (father in law) birthday. That was also fun. We got to hang out with Brian's grandparents,  stepmom, dad, siblings, etc. There was even a baby that showed up (one of my FIL co-workers grand baby).

  The weird thing is on our way home, I had period-like cramps. It felt like my cervix was cramping and feeling abnormal.

  Then today at church my stomach hurt. Just like a "I'm hungry" ache...nothing big. But, I had just eaten. It happened consistently before church for like 10 minutes...then on and off at church, and now a little bit. 

  Brian and I were talking. Maybe it's because it's the first week off bc, maybe it's because it's my first week on pre-natals? We're not sure. Time will tell of course. But, Melissa (MCord) did have a dream last night that I was pregnant. Odd huh, is she prophetic? 

  I'll keep you updated on our quest for a baby (or getting prepared for it)!

Doctor Visit

     I went to my annual doctor appointment today! Since I've turned 21 I've been going to my female friendly doctor. No particular reason, I was just told that it's safer to do it, even if there was no reason to need to go. I started going to just a generic Family physician. She was my first experience, I had no idea there was a difference between the doctor I was going to and an OBGYN. 

   Last year I received a phone call that was terrifying. I was told that my pap smear was abnormal. I was told that it was not HPV related, nor cancer related...So then I was sent to a "specialist." Little did I know that this specialist was just an OBGYN. So in November I went to check out what was wrong. The OBGYN saw my results and said there was nothing wrong, they just leave it to multiple factors that could trigger abnormal. 

   Now, I go to this OBGYN for everything. I see the doctor and nurses that I saw from November, and I truly love my doctor! She is the best thing out there! Her bedside manner is awesome. 

     I never thought I'd care about a doctor that talks with you and has fun with you. She walks in telling jokes, leaves telling jokes, and shares stories about her own life! I told her that Brian and I were going to start ttc soon. She gave me some advice. She said that over the counter prenatal pills are just as good as prescribed pills. She said she could give me a prescription, but only if I wanted them. 

   I told my doctor that we were hoping for July. She then looked at me and said, "Okay, I'll see you in 30 days." It was funny, she kept saying that people always say later but then end up "oops" pregnant. While I was leaving the nurse gave me a "Welcome your TTC kit" with pills and magazines and such. While she gave it to me the nurse said, "Oh, Dr. Merritt wants me to tell you to see you in 30 days." I started laughing and said "No, no, in July!" 

   Another reason why I love my doctor, I may have said this before, but my friend goes to this practice. My friend had the worst pregnancy symptoms ever, and she still likes them. Plus, all the rate my doctor websites give the practice high ratings all around!

   While reading a magazine I got from my "Welcome Kit," I learned some wonderful foods to eat. So, for the next year a lot of my diet will include:

• Cashews
• Dry cereal with Folic Acid
• Homemade popcorn
• Frozen fruit juice (OJ pops anyone?)
• Homemade chocolate pudding
• anything with Tomato Sauce
• Bananas (good source of B vitamin)
• Romaine lettuce salads (good source of folate)
• Whole wheat bread (this will be hard, but good source of folate)
• Chicken (iron)
• Yogurt (calcium)
• 12 almonds (more iron)
• Hard boiled eggs

 That is all. I wanted to share my excitement of my doctor, how excited she was, and some things I've learned. Baby dust in a few months!  :)

Terminology

It's been a few days since my last post. We've been busy visiting family, getting back into work (spring break is over folks!), and resting up! It's been 4 days since I've stopped my birth control (BC), tomorrow I go to my doctor. We shall see what she says for our plans!

Since I've been on Pink Pad and have been looking into pregnancy, I've learned quite a few new terms/abbreviations or new "pregnancy" words. Want to learn some? Okay :)

BD - Baby dancing (a polite way of the time you try making a baby)
TTC - Trying to conceive
Preseed - Is a lubricant that is used to help push the swimmers along in its journey.
CD # - Cycle Day... and did you know your Cycle day starts the first day of your period. I didn't.
AF - Aunt Flo - never called it that, but still humorous. 
DPO # - Days past ovulation... Good to know for time lines in testing
HPT - Home pregnancy test
2WW - Two week wait, the wait between when you BD/Ovulation and the time you take your HPT.
BBT - Basal Body temperature. This is a different temperature than your "normal" thermometer temperature. If there is any sudden change, that means you're ovulating. I haven't gone to the extreme of taking my BBT. However, if it's September and I'm not prego... then I'll do it.
BFP/BFN - Everyone on Pink Pad uses this. It stands for big fat positive/negative. When you take your HPT and you get a yay or a nay... that's what this is.


 Those are all the major ones. Fun, huh? So, as I read forums/threads on Pink Pad, they are filled with even more abbreviations and fun words. My mind is consumed with these words. 


I'm excited to start trying, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. It scares me that some people have been TTC for months and others days...How does this work? Why can't I wrap my mind around it? Then, people are talking about PCOS (polycystic Ovarian syndrome)...which is basically irregular/no periods. My cycle life has been very crazy.. From around 14-20 my cycles were normal. Very regular... Then from 21-before marriage, my cycles were crazy. Then went on BC and they were regular. So I'm anticipating what my cycle will be like.

The good thing, it'll be summer time and I won't have to stress! 


Off to help my mother in law with homework! :) Thanks for letting me chat!!
 

Preparations

Good morning (late evening?)

   Well, Brian and I are up late, listening to 90s/early 2000's ballads, R&B songs, and raps. We're crazy, haha. Bring back the Boy 2 Men, All 4 One, Will Smith, TLC, you know!

  Any way, Brian and I are super excited for our future ahead of us. As of last week, I have no more birth control pills. Woo hoo! I am excited that chemicals will be out of my body and I can see how my body adjusts. We were told to wait a few months before conceiving, so that everything can get back to natural. Also, my friend said that it's safer for your baby if you are off bc for awhile. Now, I know this could be a myth because people can get pregnant on the pill. But we are taking precautions. Prior to getting on BC, my cycles were very scattered and abnormal. So hopefully after 4 years of growing up it will be regular! 

  This week I will be visiting the doctor. I can set out a plan, start taking some pre-natal  vitamins and go from there. Sometimes I have to remind myself that we want to try for a June/July/August baby because that will work out for "our" time line. I want to just jump ahead, but I can't get ahead of myself.

  Of course, in all of this I say "our" plan and "our" time line, but this is all in God's hands! Proverbs 16:9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Brian and I have had a rejuvenating relationship with God! We went on a staff retreat with Brian's work (Discovery church). The retreat was all about solitude and silence. It was so refreshing to sit with God by a waterfall and listen to what He wanted to tell me. We often have our own solitude time in our house. From the retreat, we've started a night time fixed hour pray. This has helped me get to sleep, since I suffer from achluophobia (fear of the darkness/night time).

  

  But I digress. Brian and I have been improving ourselves to help prepare for our future. Whether it be with driving more carefully (and being a patient driver - ahem BQ), working out daily and eating healthier or even getting out of debt. We've just purchased our last big thing for ourselves, a new bedroom set, new mattress, and decor. We love it! Another bit of advice we were given was to buy the things you need before having a baby, unless you'll never get around to buying it. :) 

  Our last preparation has been picking out the right doctor. I've been asking many previously pregnant women (sister in laws, coworkers, etc) about their doctors, their opinions, etc. One thing I learned: everyone is always willing to give you advice on their way of having a baby! :) Not that I don't appreciate it. Whenever I went for my check ups, I just went to a family doctor. However, now I have to switch to a specific gyno. Thankfully, I had to go to one for a few things back in November. My doctor is part of the same practice that my co-worker had. She had a rough pregnancy (she had twins!). I know if they could take care of her and she love them, then I'll be fine! Also, now that I remember it, my sister in law also went to her practice.

  Thanks for continuing to stay on this journey with us. I can't wait until we get further along in it. I know these months will fly by (don't they always?), so we will be on a whirlwind. <3

Welcome!

Well, I am back into the blogging world! 

Welcome to my newest blog, The Quigley's Quest! Let me share with you a little bit about me! 

My name is Kim. I have been a blogger since the ripe age of 14. I have had a deadjournal (I claim it to be the original journal site), livejournal, and xanga. My deadjournal was my online diary, my livejournal was just so I could see other people's posts, and my xanga was my "private" entry that housed all my insecurities, fears, hurt, and even shame. 

I stopped blogging, all together, once I graduated college and became an educator. I guess I just became so consumed with life as a teacher. In May 2007, I received a job at my internship school. A few months after getting my "professional" job, I met the man of my dreams, Brian!

 Brian and I started dating July 11, 2007. I gave up dating until God clearly spoke to me about my husband. I declared that the next man I gave my heart to would be my husband. I was tired of giving my heart to different guys, it wasn't fair to me or my husband. So, I knew, if I was investing into Brian, it was for a lifetime. Luckily, God knew that to be true, and Brian felt the same. On April 1, 2008 (wow, 3 years ago today!) Brian proposed to me at Lakeridge Winery. We got married January 17, 2009. 

Life as a married couple has been amazing. Our first year together was perfect (as much as perfect could be). God truly blessed our first year of marriage. Our second year was not as perfect, but still very enjoyable! Now, we are onto year number 3! It has been a wonderful already. We've been married for about 2 1/2 years and have made a big decision! 

Our household needs more human beings in it!! Yup! That is right, Brian and I are looking to add some more people to our house! Not just any people, but a baby!!

I am already a member of an iPhone app called Pink Pad. This helps track your ovulation schedule, body temperatures, symptoms etc. I am able to post to the forum and talk with other people trying to conceive. I can often be found checking out the newest posts. I probably have already shared with you this cool app if you are my friend! I'm very excited for it! 

Brian and I are not yet trying, due to a teacher schedule. But in days to come I will share what Brian and I have been doing to prepare for when we begin trying, and life until that point! 

My hope for this blog is to be a story of our quest to add to the Quigley clan! I'd like to journal our all of our triumphs and trials. I hope you enjoy our journey! <3